DSEI UK 2025: Quaze and Vatn partner for underwater power

Quaze Technologies, a company specialising in wireless power transfer, and Vatn Systems, a defence technology firm that builds autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), have entered a strategic development partnership. The collaboration is intended to enable wireless charging for AUVs, also known as underwater drones, in maritime environments, according to news released on September 5, 2025.

Quaze’s technology allows for the wireless recharging of robotic systems without direct human intervention. The company’s newest product, the QU6, includes modular receivers and transmitters designed for integration into various robotic platforms. 

Vatn Systems’ AUVs are designed for extended missions below the water’s surface. These systems are equipped with navigation software intended to operate in environments where GPS, communication, and visual signals may be compromised. Historically, recharging these underwater vehicles has required physical connectors, which have been unreliable in maritime settings.

The partnership aims to integrate Quaze’s wireless charging receiver into Vatn’s Skelmir S-6 AUVs. The drones would then be able to recharge autonomously at a remote wireless power docking point, which would remove the need for an operator to be present. This is expected to extend operational endurance and reduce maintenance requirements. The companies also plan to develop additional underwater charging solutions.

Xavier Bidaut, the chief executive of Quaze Technologies, stated that the collaboration “pushes the boundaries of AUV operations by removing the failure point of charging connectors and eliminating the need for human intervention.” Nelson Mills, chief executive of Vatn Systems, said the partnership “represents a major advancement in autonomous maritime robotics and will enable scalable, resilient, and cost-effective underwater operations.”

Company Profile: Quaze Technologies

Quaze Technologies is a company that develops wide-surface wireless power transfer systems. The company’s technology is designed to enable the recharging of robotic systems in various environments without requiring human intervention or physical connectors. It has also partnered with the company Galvion to integrate its wireless technology into Galvion’s BATLCHRG UX, which is designed to provide power for UAVs.

Calibre comment

AUVs can operate for long periods of time without intervention, providing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) to detect threats and inspect underwater infrastructure. They are generally limited by the life of the batteries fitted to them. The civil industry has a range of capabilities that can extend the duration of an AUV by providing a garage that they dock into and recharge. Providing underwater recharging infrastructure could help extend the endurance of AUVs and improve persistence, which is seen as a central element of protecting and defending the underwater battlespace.

By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on September 15, 2025. Credit for the lead image is Vatn Systems, it shows the Skelmir S-6 AUV.